Smokey Bear Fighting Forest Fires to Visit Armenia

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia announces that Smokey Bear, the iconic character of the longest-running social advertising campaign in U.S. history, will arrive in Armenia this week as part of his first international trip to continue his mission of raising awareness about unwanted, man-made wildfires. Since 1944, Smokey Bear has launched a campaign to prevent forest fires, which has had a significant impact in the United States.

The familiar figure of Smokey Bear (with a ranger hat, blue jeans secured with a belt, and a shovel in hand) and his singular message, “Only you can prevent forest fires,” have stood the test of over seven decades. Throughout his dynamic career, Smokey Bear has met with thousands of children, imparting essential knowledge about fire prevention.

He has also interacted with presidents and movie stars, including John F. Kennedy and Arnold Schwarzenegger, further amplifying his message. Thanks to Smokey Bear, several generations of Americans are well aware of the leading causes of devastating fires, such as careless behavior like failing to extinguish campfires properly or discarding smoking materials out of car windows.

His famous slogan is recognized by 96% of the adult population in the U.S., and 75% of outdoor enthusiasts, who recognize Smokey Bear, believe he is an admirable role model for children.

While in Armenia, Smokey Bear, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy and representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, will meet with both children and government officials, and visit forested areas around Yerevan to educate the public on how to love nature and protect Armenia's forested regions and wildlife.

Let’s see if you can meet Smokey Bear on the streets of the city and celebrate his 75th birthday with him!

To learn more about Smokey Bear and forest fire prevention, visit www.smokeybear.com and follow Smokey Bear on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the hashtags #SmokeyBear75 and #OnlyYou.

The agency responsible for Smokey Bear's management is the U.S. Forest Service in collaboration with the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forest and grasslands for the benefit of the American public. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

The U.S. Forest Service has been carrying out its operations in Armenia since 2010, implementing continuous programs year after year. The U.S. Forest Service, in collaboration with civil society and the government, is working on addressing several critical issues related to natural resource management in Armenia, including managing forest fires and reforestation and forest restoration.